Thickness Sander - ShopNotes...

[Wood_workur]

Actually, I found this:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/libra...pril/True_Grit, and I think I will build something like it. I would add a hand feed belt, but I son't want to spend a ton on sand paper or rubber for it. It also has a excellent height adjust system.

[ddamoore]

Making homemade tools just seems kinda crazy to me. Sure you might save several hundred dollars but are there any home made tools that could compare to a factory built one and last as long and be as easy to use? The purpose of electric tools is to make things easier and faster right? And to me it seems the more $$ you spend the more acuracy you get. A $65 table saw can cut a piece of 4/4 wood as good as $2000 table saw. But im pretty sure the cut will be straighter and cleaner on the $2000 one. and so on with just about any other tool. A cheap wood boring bit drills a hole but an expensive forstner bit bores a nice clean hole.
I learned my lesson with a saltwater aquarium (reef) if you skimp now you'll pay later.

What is the matter with you Have you not ever seen the Red Green show? We guys love to make something out of nothing...especially if it involves the use of duct tape

http://www.redgreen.com/

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy. Red Green

[gjat]

Making homemade tools just seems kinda crazy to me. Sure you might save several hundred dollars but are there any home made tools that could compare to a factory built one and last as long and be as easy to use? The purpose of electric tools is to make things easier and faster right? And to me it seems the more $$ you spend the more acuracy you get. A $65 table saw can cut a piece of 4/4 wood as good as $2000 table saw. But im pretty sure the cut will be straighter and cleaner on the $2000 one. and so on with just about any other tool. A cheap wood boring bit drills a hole but an expensive forstner bit bores a nice clean hole.
I learned my lesson with a saltwater aquarium (reef) if you skimp now you'll pay later.

You're kidding right? Why build a toy box when you can buy one at Target? Why build a night stand or loft bed when you can buy one at Rooms to Go or Ethan Allen? I'll never turn a pen blank not just because you can buy nice ones at Staples, but because I have no desire to.

You build it because you 'think you can' and you want to. It's not the destination, but the journey.

[bigfoot15]

There was a company here at the WW show that had all the hardware (drums, paper, etc, and sold a kit to make your own sander. their paper attachment was the key selling point.

If I can find the brochure I'll post the name.

[betacrash]

I just purchased all of my hardware. Came to about $80. Since I am not going to be using a table saw to power my sander, would a 1/2 HP motor suffice or should I use a 1 HP?

[gjat]

I just purchased all of my hardware. Came to about $80. Since I am not going to be using a table saw to power my sander, would a 1/2 HP motor suffice or should I use a 1 HP?

I'm not 100% sure. A 1/2 hp will work if you aren't aggressive in taking off a lot each pass, don't have a low grit (60), and the pieces aren't particularly wide. How wide are you making the drum and what do you think you'll be mostly sanding?

[betacrash]

it is a 16" wide drum 5" in diameter. I will be thicknessing tops for guitars and ukuleles.